Umbrella sheath for foldable-flat umbrellas

ABSTRACT

A COLLAPSIBLE UMBRELLA WHICH WHEN COLLAPSED IS FLATTENDED IN CROSS SECTION AND HAS A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OR OVAL OUTLINE. THE HANDLE IS OF CORRESPONDING RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION AND HAS DOME DRIB RECEIVING RECESSES IN OPPOSED LATERAL PORTIONS OF THE HANDLE. THE SHEATH FOR STOWING THE COLLAPSED FLAT UMBRELLA IS OF RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION AND HAS STIFFENED LENGTHWISE SIDE WALLS, AND SHORTENED WIDTHWISE SIDE WALLS.

Sept. 20, 1971 BREMSHEY 3,605,772

UMBRELLA SHEATH FOR FOLDABLE-FLAT UMBRELLAS Filed March 21, 1969 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 Fl 27 23 K FIG. I

F. BREMSHEY 3,605,772

UMBRELLA SHEATH FOR FOLDABLE-FLAT UMBRELLAS Sept. 20, 1971 4 Shoots-Shut 2 Filed March 21, 1969 IN VENTOR. k/rz 5251/6/75) F. BREMSHEY 3,605,772

UMBRELLA SHEATH FOR FOLDABLE-FLAT UMBRELLAS Sept. 20, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 21, 1969 UMBRELLA SHEATH FOR FOLDABLE-FLAT UMBRELLAS Filed March 21, 1969 F. BREMSHEY Sept. 20, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m m F INVENTOR. FR/TZ BRf/l/Sbf) United States Patent Oifice 3,605,772 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,605,772 UMBRELLA SHEATH FOR FOLDABLE-FLAT UMBRELLAS Fritz Bremshey, Solingen-Ohligs, Germany, asslgnor to Telesco Brophey Limited, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Filed Mar. 21, 1969, Ser. No. 810,443 Claims priority, application Germany, Mar. 30, 1968,

P 17 57 104.9; Aug. 3, 1968, P 17 82 245.6

Int. Cl. A45b 25/18 US. Cl. 135-33 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A collapsible umbrella which when collapsed is flattened in cross section and has a generally rectangular or oval outline. The handle is of corresponding rectangular cross section and has dome rib receiving recesses in opposed lateral portions of the handle.

The sheath for stowing the collapsed flat umbrella is of rectangular cross section and has stiiiened lengthwise side Walls, and shortened widthwise side walls.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION (1) Field of invention The present invention relates to an umbrella which when closed, assumes a flattened cross-section and more particularly to the handle of a collapside flat umbrella and to a sheath for stowing and carrying a collapsed flat umbrella.

(2) Description of prior art The umbrella of fiat cross section when in a closed condition has been described in copending United States application Ser. No. 717,523, filed Apr. 1, 1968 in the name of Paul Kraft. Normally, the umbrella includes a telescopic stick, a crown of rectangular outline with a pair of opposed lateral extensions; dome ribs, of either the telescopic or folding type, hinged to the crown; runners of corresponding flattened outline on the stick and stretcher members hinged to the runners and to the dome ribs. The handle can include recesses in opposed lateral extensions for seating the ends of the dome ribs when the umbrella is in a collapsed condition.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved handle of fiat outline for use with the umbrella of the type described above.

It is also an aim of the present invention to provide an improved sheath for use in stowing and carrying the above type of umbrella.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an improved runner which aids in aligning and supporting the dome ribs when the umbrella is in a collapsed condition.

Generally, a handle in accordance with the present invention is adapted to fit at the end of a stick, the handle comprising a base and lateral members extending normal to the axis of the stick from the base, means defining a dome-rib seat on the lateral members, a central portion extending from the base about the stick, said central portion having at least a pair of diametrically opposed planar converging surfaces extending from the base thereof.

A sheath in accordance with the present invention comprises a substantially rectangular sleeve having a closed end and an open end, planar lengthwise side walls and planar widthwise side walls. The margin of said open end is defined by the longitudinal free edges of said lengthwise walls, and a slotted opening of predetermined length being defined at least at one of said widthwise side walls from the margin of said open end. The slotted opening allows the open end of the sleeve to be expanded for retrieving and inserting a collapsed umbrella into the sheath and also provides an opening for gripping the lateral members of a handle of an umbrella stowed in the sheath, when it is required to retrieve it.

The lateral extending members of the runner can also be slightly concave in their end portions so as to more easily fit the bundle of dome ribs on either lateral end of the runner when the umbrella is in a collapsed position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particular reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration preferred embodiments thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a collapsed umbrella of the flattened type and a sheath of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the umbrella is partly inserted into the sheath;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view shown from the widthwise side wall of the sheath showing the sheath of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the umbrella fully inserted into the sheath;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 with the umbrella stick and handle not fully collapsed.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section taken along the lines IVIV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a typical umbrella of the collapsible flat type which is in a fully extended open position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a further embodiment of the sheath of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment of the sheath shown in FIG. 6 and illustrating a further detail thereof;

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross section along the lines VIII- VIII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section taken along the lines IXIX of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of the embodiment of the sheath shown in FIG. 6.

The shortenable umbrella capable of being folded fiat illustrated in FIG. 5 has an umbrella stick 1 consisting of telescopic tubes 2, 3 and 4. The telescopic tubes 2, 3 and 4 are held in a fully extended position by means of spring catches 5.

Umbrella stick tube 4 mounts at its lower end a handle 6. The handle 6 is provided with diametrically opposed lateral members defining recesses 7 and 8 adatpted to seat the ends 9' of dome ribs 9 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Handle 6 includes a central member 10 separating recesses 7 and 8. The central member 10 projects axially of the stick '1 from the handle 6 by about twice the depth of the recesses 7 and 8. The central portion 10 defines opposed converging planar walls 11 and 11'. The walls 11 converge from the base 6' of the handle at the bottom of the recesses 7 and 8 while the walls 11 converge towards each other axially of the stick only from the edges of the walls 6" which extend throughout the length and width of the handle 6 and its lateral members. The walls 6-" converge towards the base 6' in the opposite direction from the walls 11. The end result is that the handle 6 proper has a shape of a flared trough.

First runner 12 slides on umbrella stick 1 and comprises corresponding lateral members 13 diametrically opposite each other, to which stretcher members 14 are hinged. The latter are connected to dome ribs 9 by hinges 15.

Also sliding on umbrella stick 1 is a second runner 16 which also has corresponding lateral members 17. Hinged to the latter are strut members 18 which cooperate with stretcher members 14. The dome ribs 9 are hinged to corresponding lateral members 19 of a crown 20.

The converging walls 11' of the handle of course make it easier for inserting the umbrella including the handle 6 into a sheath especially adapted for stowing a collapsed umbrella of flattened cross section. Also the converging walls 11 help to align the ends 9' of the dome ribs 9 when the umbrella stick is being collapsed as shown in FIG. 3. As the handle approaches the ends 9' the latter engage the converging walls 11 and slide into the recesses 7 and 8. Normally the central portion defines a concentric recess adapted to seat the first runner 12. (This is not shown in the drawings.) Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 because of the somewhat concave shape end surfaces 27 of the lateral members 13 of the runner 12 the bundles of dome ribs 9 are more easily aligned into the recesses 7 and 8 because the ends 27 of the runners 12 are longitudinally aligned with the recesses 7 and 8 as shown in FIG. 4.

The above-mentioned umbrella can be used in any suitable sheath especially adapted for collapsed umbrellas of flattened cross section. However a preferred sheath will now be described.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the sheath is indicated generally by the reference numeral 21. The sheath can be made of plastic, leather, cloth or other flexible material and in this case is of generally rectangular shape having lengthwise side walls 24 and widthwise side walls 23. The sheath includes a bottom wall 21 at the closed end of the sheath. The other end thereof is open.

In a preferred embodiment, the flexible material can be described as being semi-stiff. The end edges of the lengthwise side walls 24 define the margin of the open end of the sheath 21. The widthwise side walls in the present embodiment define a slotted opening from the margin of the open end of the side wall to a short distance to the edge 25 of the widthwise side wall 23. A short depression or recess is also provided in the widthwise side wall 23 at 26 to allow flexing of the ends of the lengthwise side wall portion 23. In this embodiment, a portion of the lengthwise side wall 24 above the section defined by the edge 25 of the widthwise side wall forms a flap 24. This flap 24' can be stiffened or reinforced so as to make it less flexible than the remainder of the side wall 24.

As is evident from FIG. 2, the provision of this slotted opening extending from the margin of the opened end down the widthwise side wall portion 23 allows free access to grip the handle 6, and also exposes a portion X of the dome ribs 9. In inserting and retrieving the collapsed umbrella from the sheath 21 the flaps 24 are easily expanded to provide an enlarged opening for receiving the handle and the action of the stilfened flaps 24' also aids alignment of the collapsed dome ribs 9 as the umbrella is being inserted into the sheath 21 as shown in FIG. 3. Because of the limits set by the sheath 21 the dome ribs 9 forcibly take the position shown in FIG. 3 and as the stick 1 is being collapsed, the handle approaches the ends 9' of the dome rib with the ends 9' aligned with the recesses 7 and 8 by the aligning surfaces 27 of the runner 12. Actually, with the present embodiment, the sheath 21 itself can be used in the collapsing of the umbrella. That is, once the dome ribs of the umbrella have been closed, the crown end 20 of the umbrella can be inserted into the sheath 21 without the dome ribs 9 or the stick 1 having actually been collapsed. By pressing on the handle end 6 of the umbrella the stick 1 and the dome ribs 9 collapse and are aligned by the action of the flaps 24' and the general configuration of the sheath 21.

In the second embodiment of the sheath shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the sheath is indicated by refernce numeral 29.

The sheath 29 is again adapted to the flat shape of the umbrella when collapsed. It comprises narrow widthwise walls 30, lengthwise walls 21, a bottom 32 and an open end 33. Narrow widthwise walls are spaced slightly from the margin of opening 33 defined by the edges of lengthwise side walls 31. They are provided with slits 34 open to the edge thereof. An inner flap 35 is connected to the wall 31 below the slit 34 and is superimposed over the slit 34 from the interior of the sheath 21, to prevent sections of the canopy material from getting caught in the slits 34 when the umbrella is being inserted into the sheath.

The flap 35 is connected along its edge 36 and along a partial length Y by the two adjacent lateral edges 37 by means of a weld 38.

As may be seen in FIG. 8, lower transverse edge 36 lies just under slit 34 which ends in a circular aperture 34. Thus the weld 38 at this location, provides reinforcement for a zone particularly susceptible to tearing. This same zone in the lengthwise wall 33 constitutes in practice the hinge location for flaps 39 which can be spread apart to the extent shown in FIG. 7.

Flaps 35 widen out towards their free ends. Their width Z is greater than the width Z of narrow lateral wall 30. As may be seen in FIG. 7, flaps 35 assume an upright position in extension of narrow widthwise walls 30, even when flaps 39 are folded down. The body of the umbrella to be inserted is then guided by the internal surface of the flaps 35.

Since narrow widthwise walls 30 are shorter than lengthwise walls 31, it is easy to grip handle 6 for the purpose of removing the umbrella from the case.

For the purpose of securing the umbrella when it is in the case, the said case may be provided with a retaining belt 40 crossing over opening 33 and fitted with a snap fastener.

I claim:

1. A sheath adapted to receive the collapsed umbrella which assumes a flat cross section, the sheath comprising a substantial rectangular sleeve of flexible material having a closed end and an open end, planar lengthwise side walls and planar widthwise side walls; the margin of said open end being defined by the longitudinal free edges of said lengthwise walls; an opening of predetermined length being defined at least at one of said widthwise side walls from the margin of said open end, whereby the slotted opening permits the adjacent portions of the lengthwise planar walls to expand and provides easy access to the flat handle of an umbrella when inserted in the sheath.

2. A sheath as defined in claim 1 wherein the lengthwise portions adjacent the opening of said widthwise walls are reinforced relative to the remaining portion of said lengthwise wall.

3. A sheath as defined in claim 1 wherein the opening is a slotted opening.

4. A sheath as defined in claim 3 wherein both widthwise wall portions are provided with slotted openings.

6 5. A sheath as defined in claim 3 wherein the width- References Cited wise wall is provided with a slit extending centrally there- UNITED STATES PATENTS of and open to the slotted opening.

6. A sheath as defined in claim 5 wherein a flap is con- 2,105,172 1/ 1938 voelker 135-33C nected to the widthwise side wall and overlaps the slit FOREIGN PATENTS in the widthwise side wall internally of the sheath.

7. A sheath as defined in claim 6 wherein the flaps 5130 10/1883 Great Bmam "135 33C are connected to the widthwise side wall preferably by a 50498 12/1968 Germany 135*33C weld at the lower edge thereof and a partial length there- PETER CAUN, Primary Examiner of m a direction defining a U-shaped weld at the bottom 10 edge. 

